Women of faith merit respect

Thank you for your articles, letters, and comments you have published regarding the Vatican visitation of U.S. communities of women religious. I am a Dominican sister who has professed for 55 years in the Congregation of the Most Holy Rosary, Adrian. I reside in our retirement facility in Adrian.

You can count me as one who was born Catholic and who is filled with gratitude for my faith and for the church that has nurtured my spiritual life.

I have ministered as teacher, school principal, campus minister, and Provincial.

My story of dedicated service is similar to every woman religious who has vowed her life to God. I have been in the trenches and the leadership and I believe I ve seen and heard most everything, but nothing like this. It is my understanding that congregations were not consulted on this investigative process or provided with any substantive information as to the purpose behind it.

I am deeply hurt and saddened that, in my elder years, the Vatican believes it necessary to question my life and faithfulness. That the first interest the Vatican has ever shown in my life and ministry comes shrouded in secrecy and suspicion is deeply troubling to me. What could possible be the rationale or defense for such an approach?

Like Anna in Luke s gospel (2:33 and 37), my life has been lived out in the proverbial temple of religious life. I have served with integrity and here I will die but not before I am investigated by the Vatican! American women religious deserve better.

Sister Patricia McCarty, OP

Adrian

In response to the May 4 letter from the young man regarding jobs for the middle class: This high school senior wonders why all of the stimulus jobs are going to low-income people. The answer to this question is a lesson in socialism.

A high school student who is just learning about the working world and the rights and wrongs of politics has learned a valuable lesson on why socialism is evil and why the so-called stimulus package is nothing of the sort.

It is simply another political game of wealth redistribution.

The only good that has come of this is the fact that even the teenagers are now understanding the true meaning of socialism. Mr. Obama s rock-star sheen starts to wear off when his policies hit home.